Is it troublesome to anyone else that scrap metal has become one of our biggest exports?

Question

Does that speak volumes about our manufacturing base?

Answer 1

No. Scrap metal is in demand in countries that are developing their industrial base. We have cheaper and more reliable substitutes for many metals. Some examples include, fiber optics replacing copper and nickel wires, and plastics and graphite based alloys replacing aluminum and steal. These substitutes are also lighter in weight and the replacement costs are far lower than for the metals we are exporting. So there's no need to worry. While our traditional manufacturing base is shrinking, it's being replaced by the manufacturing of these new substitutes.

Answer 2

The top eight destinations accounted for 90 percent of U.S. scrap exports: China, Canada, Turkey, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, Japan and Germany. Rounding out the top 12 were India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Peru.


Bush raises tariffs on steel .
The duties, ranging from 8 percent to 30 percent cover flat-rolled steel and other steel product imports from a long list of countries, including Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Germany, Turkey, France, China, Australia and the Netherlands. The tariffs, which vary by product line, would stay in place for three years.

SO sounds like we ship it out let them reprocess the scrap and then import it back in .

A dirty process to recycle steel requiring lots of energy .Still cheaper then processing from raw resources .

Seems we send it out then buy it back and the government collects a hefty junk of change in the process..

This is just another scam by the government .
They are starting to operate and think like a business and this is not good for the people its suppose to serve .

They broke the steel unions shutting down dozens of plants during the late70's and 80's relied heavily on imported steel and now have begun again to produce steel with cheaper labor .

You have to love the manipulation to make a buck needed and how the rich get richer and the poor are getting poorer .

No one values the hard work of people .
Seems the best way to make a dollar is hustle someone else out of it .

Answer 3

The Last time scrap metal was our biggest export, was just before before Pearl Harbor. Yes Japan was the buyer.

Answer 4

Yes its a sad day that instead of TVs, or other manufactured goods that a by product of production is what the biggest export is. I wish they would tariff the heck out of all imports, that way we could get back to Made in the USA on our products instead of made in China.

Answer 5

Have you seen what scrap metal sells for? I have, we deal in it every day. I'll follow the $$$, whatever form it takes.

Answer 6

I have a brother-in-law that has a heat treat company in Warren, Mi and he sticks to 'made in the USA and sold in the USA. Nitro-Vac and he has ethics.